Toxic environment! Stay away - R&I Engineer MONOLITHOS Catalysts Employee Review

I joined Monolithos with prior industry experience in industrial R&D environment and my assessment is based on professional comparison rather than first employment impressions. Exposure to research projects, EU reporting frameworks, technical documentation and collaborations offer solid professional foundation. Professional development is meaningful encouraged and funded through opportunities to participate in postgraduate studies aligned with our role. From an operational standpoint, we are provided with the equipment and support to fulfill our tasks. Infactrusture and lab capabilities have expanded over time, reflecting investment in operation rather than stagnation. As researchers, we are regularly assessed by external certification entities. As a consequence, lab protocols and documentation are formally maintained and strengthened over time. All in all, the culture is demanding yet unequivocally professional.

This is not a relaxed 9-5 environment. Expectations are high, the environment is constantly changing and the learning curve can be steep. Future colleagues who prefer loosely structured environments or minimal accountability may find the expectations challenging.

There are no real positives to highlight.

From the beginning, employees are pressured to accept minimum wage officially, with the rest paid under the table, presented as non-negotiable. The work environment is consistently intimidating, manipulative, and coercive. Management appears to believe that psychologically breaking employees increases productivity. As a result, staff are subjected to deliberate and degrading “tests,” power games, and arbitrary pressure designed to provoke reactions, undermine confidence, and establish control. This creates a climate of fear and constant stress rather than any form of healthy professional motivation. Behavior toward staff, and even external collaborators, is often disrespectful and demeaning. Very few people manage to stay longer than a year. Unrealistic deadlines are imposed for tasks that clearly cannot be completed within the requested timeframes. Regarding the scientific/research side, the focus appears to be more on taking photos and appearances than on conducting meaningful research. Even when employees are motivated to do serious scientific work, they are actively discouraged. There are no ISO standards in place, and basic safety regulations are not properly followed in the facilities. Overall, this is not a healthy environment for researchers or professionals who value ethics, safety, and genuine scientific work.